All's Ready For The Start Of Benefit Rafting Competition

All systems are go for the eighth annual "Rafting Against Cancer" race to be held Sunday on the Lehigh River between Glen Onoko and Jim Thorpe.

Jacquelyn Valick, chairman, said that if all requests which came in after the deadline could have been honored, there would be more than the 180 rafts making the trip.

Registration will begin at 8 a.m. at a booth in front of the Railroad Station Museum on Hazard Square, Jim Thorpe, and the first group of rafters will hit the river at 9:30 a.m.

Numerous groups have volunteered their services to help the race run smoothly.

The Jim Thorpe Transportation Co. has volunteered its buses to transport the rafters to the starting point at Glen Onoko, and the timing for the race will be in charge of Harry Margolis and Co., an accounting firm from Bethlehem.

Kovatch Corp. of Nesquehoning has volunteered flatbed trucks to return the rafts to the starting point; Elwood Diehl has granted permission for the buses to be loaded at his service station on Susquehanna Street, and the Fairview Ambulance Corps of Jim Thorpe will stand by in the event of an emergency.

In addition, the Anthracite Region Emergency Association (AREA) will provide point-to-point communications and safety for the eighth consecutive year, and the Carbon County Emergency Management Agency will provide river safety guides and ground security.

Radio station WLSH will again anchor the public address system with Bud Angst and Mike Berzowski calling rafters to the buses and announcing the arrivals of the rafts down the river.

The race is again being sponsored by Pocono Whitewater Ltd. of Jim Thorpe, which is providing rafts and equipment free of charge, and Quality Beverage Distributors of Hazleton, providing trophies for the winners.

The raft with the best overall time will be awarded the "Rafting Against Cancer" trophy to hold until next year, and eligible rafters will also receive prizes.

Tickets with redeemable stubs for a discount at the Lehighton Pizza Hut restaurant are available at several sites, including the cancer unit office, 33 W. Ridge St., Lansford.

A public picnic featuring a variety of food, refreshments, games, novelties and amusements will be held 11 a.m.-8 p.m. at Flagstaff Mountain Park, Jim Thorpe, in conjunction with the raft race. The event will be held rain or shine and is being chaired by Joan Suzadail and Andrew Tuzinski, president of the local unit.

The music of two bands will be featured in the Flagstaff ballroom. George McDonald and Buddy Wychulis will play from 2 to 5 p.m., and Forecast will entertain 6-8 p.m.

"Rafting Against Cancer" sweat shirts and T-shirts with logos will be sold at the picnic and in downtown Jim Thorpe during the race. Souvenir mugs will also be available.

Proceeds from the event will aid the American Cancer Society to help patients in the area of the Carbon-Tamaqua Unit.